Fountain scrubbing assembly



Jan. L 1963 s. PATERNO 3,070,826

FOUNTAIN SCRUBBING ASSEMBLY Filed March 14, 1960 :SAM Pa TER/vo 520ML MMATTORNE VIS 3,070,825 Patented Jan. 1, 1963 3,070,826 FOUNTAINSCRUESIBING ASSEMBLY Sam Paterno, 1338 Payton, Des Moines, Iowa FiledMar. 14, 196i), Ser. No. 14,826 laims. (Cl. 15-567) This inventionrelates to a fountain scrubbing assembly with an inbuil't detergentsupply for Washing automobiles, windows, and the like, wherein thescrubbing element is readily connectable to a common garden hose orother source of ywater under pressure.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved handfountain scrubbing assembly incorporating a detergent supply inassociation with the handle of the device, whereby a certain amount ofthe detergent may be entrained in the water from a garden hose during awashing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fountain scrubbingassembly for washing windows, automobiles, and the like wherein thescrubbing unit is provided with a restrictor valve structure to regulatethe supply of water to the scrubbing unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simplified scrubbingunit incorporating a detergent supply within the handle for use during asubsequent washing operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a scrubbing unitwith a built-in valve structure in the liquid inlet terminal connectionthereof for ready receipt of a common garden hose threaded fitting.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved restrictorvalve structure for use with scrubbing units of varied design whereby acomplete shut-off of Water flow to the scrubbing unit may beaccomplished, avoiding the necessity of returning to the main outletspigot for the hose to turn off a water supply.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a scrubbing unitfor washing windows, automobiles, and the like, which is simple andeconomical to manufacture and `which is easy to assemble for ready use.

Another object of this invention isto provide a scrubbing unit having anadjustable restrictor Valve `arrangement in combination therewith,whereby the flow of pressurized water to a scrubbing member may bevaried, to thereby control the effective discharge of combined detergentand water from the unit during a washing operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplitied fountainscrubbing assembly incorporating a detergent material reservoir in thehandle portion thereof in such a manner that the detergent will betrapped within the handle portion of the assembly until pressure isapplied thereto.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides inthe following specification and appended claims, certain embodiments anddetails of construction of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the fountain scrub-` bing assemblycomprising the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the fountain scrubbing assembly ofFIGURE l with the top cover or handle portion thereof removed from thelower scrubbing member portion thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a section view taken along the lines 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of the restrictor valve assembly embodiedwithin the hose coupling of the fountain scrubbing assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a partially sectioned View in side elevation of thecombination valve restrictor assembly as coupled to the end of anordinary water hose, which is shown in fragmentary form; and

washer 45 preferably of rubber.

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 but illustrating the garden hosein disconnect position relative to the restrictor Valve assemblycoupling of the scrubbing assembly.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a

fountain scrubbing assembly generally indicated at 10 is illlustrate-das having a handle portion 11 connected by means of a screw 12 to abrushing or scrubbing member 13. 'Ihe scrubbing member 13 may consist ofa piece of sponge rubber, or more specifically may be made of tenitepolyethylene or a similar material. Bonded to the upper surface of thesponge 13 by any suitable adhesive is a metal plate 14. Located on theupper surface of the plate 1'4 is a nut 15 which is preferably securedas by welding to the plate 14. During the assembly of the parts 11 and13 the screw 12 is directed through the opening 16 in the handle member11 and into the threaded opening of the nut 15 whereby the two units 11and 13 may be securely fastened together.

The handle member 11 preferably includes a plurality of nger griprecesses as -indicated at 17 to prevent a slipping action within thepalm of the hand of an operator during a washing operation. The handlemember 11 may be made of plastic or any other suitable material.Preferably formed integral with the under surface of the handle member11 are two depending rib members 18 and 19 which, during the assemblyoperation, engage upon the upper surface of the plate member 14, as isbest illustrated in FIGURE 3. It is therefore obvious that by tighteningup on the screw member 12 that the ribs 18 and 19 of handle member 11will be rmly aixed against the backing plate 14 of the sponge member 13.It is to be further noted that the sponge member is depressed at -20 and21 as illustrated in FIGURE 3, upon receiving the depending flanges 22and 23, respectively, ofthe skirt 50 of handle member 11. As illustratedin FIGURE 3 the sponge material extends upwardly within the handle, asshown by the extension portion thereof 24, a considerable distancewithin the skirt anges 22 and 23, to seal ol the chamber 25 which isprovided between the handle and the upper surface of the sponge. Thehandle is further provided with a ll opening at 26, which is normallyclosed by a threaded cover member 27. In use, the cover member 27 isremoved and a suitable quantity of detergent, preferably in liquid form,is added to the chamber 25 in accord with the amount of detergentnecessary for a particular washing job.

Integral with the handle member 11 at one end thereof is an extensionportion 28 embodying a through liquid passage 29. As illustrated inFIGURES 5 and 6, the passage 29 has tted therein a hose coupling tubularextension member 30 as by a friction tit. The member 3) is so formed atone extremity as to permanently couple thereto an internally -threadedsleeve 31 suitable for coupling the fountain scrubbing assembly 10 to acommon garden hose 32. As illustrated, the sleeve 31 is placed againstthe integral ange 33 of the member 30 after which the extremity of themember 30 is ared outwardly as at 34 so as to permanently aixed thesleeve to the member 30 in relatively loose fit relationship. As furtherillustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, a restrictor valve assembly generallyindicated at 35 is provided within the sleeve 31. The restrictor valveassembly 35 includes a common rubber sealing washer 39, a circular metalplate 40 including a centrally located orice 41, an O-ring member 42used for biasing purposes, a second circular metal plate 43, having anaxially offset orice 44, and a second sealing The adjacent faces of themetal plates 40 and 43 are provided with peripheral under cut areas 46and 47, respectively, to provide a common complementary seat for theO-ring 42. The

dimensions of the seat portions of the plates 40 and 43 are such thatunder normal conditions, the inherent resilience of the O-ring 42 willtend to bias the two plate members away from each other. In other words,the normal assembly as indicated yin FIGURE 5 will be such that Wi-ththe adjacent faces 36 and 37 of the members 40 and 43 in contact witheach other, the O-ring 42 will be under a certain amount of compression.The amount of compression exerted on member 42 is controlled by theposition of the sleeve 31 on the threads 48 of the hose coupling 49,which is secured by any suitable means to the end of the garden hose3?.. Thus by releasing the sleeve somewhat from the degree of takeup onthe threads 4S, the OJring 42 will be permitted to exert its biasingforce against the plate 43 to move the same so that there will be aslight space 3S between the washer members 40 and 43. In this position,water will then be able to ow from the garden hose 32 through theorifice 44 into the space 38 between the plates 40 and 43, then throughthe orifice 41 and through the scrubbing unit tube fitting 30 into thescrubbing unit handle. As the water enters the scrubbing unit from theorifice 41 it will be slightly diffused and will entrain a suitableamount of detergent before passing through the sponge 13 to the surfaceof an object under a cleaning action. It will therefore be obvious thatby tightening the sleeve 31 sufficiently on the rthreads 48 of thecoupler 49, that the bias of the O- ring 42 will be overcomesufficiently to move the orifice 44 of the Washer 43 in facial contactwith the surface 36' of the washer 40, thereby assuring a completecutoff of water from the hose 32 to the scrubbing member. It is alsoobvious that, by backing off the sleeve 31, the flow of water may bereadily regulated to agree with a particular amount of desireddispensing of corn- Ibinetl water and detergent from the sponge member.

With further regard to the construction of the scrubbing member, thechamber 25 provided by the cooperative relationship between the cover 12and the sponge 13 is such as to maintain even a liquid detergent in aconfined condition until subjected to the pressure of water flow throughthe inlet connection from the hose 32, yor by the physical pressureapplied by an operator to the handle member 11 as by pressing firmlyagainst the surface. Under normal conditions, of course, the water willentrain only a certain portion of the detergent as it flows through thesponge, such portion being suitable for the proper cleaning of asurface.

It will be obvious that this invention is suitable to many structuralmodifications well within the scope of the disclosure and the appendedclaims to which a liberal interpretation should be given with regard tosuch modifieations.

I claim:

1. A fountain scrubbing assembly including a hollow handle member and ascrubbing member secured thereto comprising a hose coupling integrallyconnected with said handle, said coupling including an internallythreaded, rotatable sleeve for receiving a similarly threaded couplingon a liquid supply hose, a plurality of adjacent plate memberspositioned within the sleeve of said coupling, each said plate memberhaving an orifice and said orifice in each said plate being offset fromthat in the adjacent plate, resilient biasing means positioned betweensaid plates to exert a separating action on said plates, said biasingmeans being subjected to an opposing force by the tightening action ofsaid sleeve on the hose coupling whereby the spacing between saidadjacent restrictor plates may be varied to control the flow of waterfrom the supply hose to the scrubbing assembly.

2. A fountain scrubbing assembly including a handle member and ascrubbing member comprising means to couple the handle member to aliquid supply hose for receiving liquid under pressure therefrom, pluralrestrictor plate means within said coupling means, 0ring meanspositioned between and contacting said plate means, whereby to bias saidplate means against contact, each said plate means being provided withan orifice and the orifice in each plate means being offset from that inthe other plate means, said coupling means acting under preselectedadjustment to vary the bias effect of the O-ring on said plate meanswhereby to vary the spacing between the plate means so as to effect acontrolled flow of liquid into the scrubbing assembly.

3. The combination of a fountain scrubbing assembly including a handlemember and an integral extension and hose coupling means therefor forcoupling the assembly to a fitting on a liquid supply hose with arestrictor valve assembly, said restrictor valve assembly being housedwithin a coupler sleeve comprising a portion of said coupling means, apair of spaced plate members, one said plate member having a substantialcentrally located orifice, and the other said plate member having acentrally offset orifice, said plate members being positioned in anormally slightly spaced relationship, each said plate being recessed onfacing peripheral edges whereby to partially accommodate a resilientbiasing O-ring, said coupling means cooperating with said hose fittingto force said plate members toward an abutting relationship during acoupling operation to vary the spacing between said members `against thebias of said O-ring whereby to regulate the amount of liquid from saidhose that may enter the scrubbing assembly through said coupling means.

4. A liquid restrictor valve assembly comprising a pair of couplingmembers, one said coupling member comprising an internally threadedsleeve and the other said coupling member comprising a tubularexternally threaded member for engagement with the internal threads ofsaid sleeve, each said coupling member being connected to a tubularpassage member for the passage of liquid therethrough, a pair of platemembers, each provided with an orifice offset in relation to each other,positioned within said sleeve and one of said plate members beingnormally abutted by the end of said tubular coupling member, andresilient biasing means positioned between said plate members tonormally oppose the contact of said plate members and the effect of thecoupling between said sleeve and said tubular coupling member whereby tocreate a space between said plate members and thereby establish a flowpassage from the one coupling member to the other through the orifice-sin said plates and through the space between said plates, the spacingbetween said plates being manually adjustable by the taken-p of thesleeve coupling member on the tubular coupling member.

5. A fountain scrubbing assembly comprising a handle member, a scrubbingmember secured to said handle member in such a manner as to establish asealed chamber between the two said members, integral tubular extensionmeans connected with said handle, tubular hose coupling means fittedwithin said tubular extension means, means to secure a hose couplingsleeve to the end of said tubular coupling means in a loose fitrelationship, said hose coupling sleeve normally receiving therein amating end of a male hose coupler, a Ipair of spaced sealing washerswithin said sleeve whereby to prevent liquid leakage about said couplersleeve when connected to the male hose coupler, a pair of plates mountedfreely Within said sleeve and between said sealing washers, one saidplate having a substantially central orifice and the other said platehaving a centrally offset orifice, and an O-ring of substantially thesame diameter as said plates positioned between said plates, said O-ringacting normally to bias said plates apart to establish a space betweenthe facing surfaces of said plates, said plates and O-ring constitutinga variable restrictor valve assembly whereby the space between saidplates will determine the fiow of liquid from the male hose coupler intosaid scrubbing assembly, the position of the coupling sleeve on the malehose coupler determining the spacing effect of the Oring on said plates.

(References on following page) References Citea in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stein Nov. 10, 1903 Knickerbocker Apr. 26,1910 5 Allen Apr. 25, 1922 Berndsen Dec. 11, 1951 6 Tucker Oct. 14, 1952Ratliff Mar. 6, 1956 Morril May 12, 1959 Lathrop Apr. 19, 196() FOREIGNPATENTS France June 30, 1958

2. A FOUNTAIN SCRUBBING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HANDLE MEMBER AND ASCRUBBING MEMBER COMPRISING MEANS TO COUPLE THE HANDLE MEMBER TO ALIQUID SUPPLY HOSE FOR RECEIVING LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE THEREFROM, PLURALRESTRICTOR PLATE MEANS WITHIN SAID COUPLING MEANS, O-RING MEANSPOSITIONED BETWEEN AND CONTACTING SAID PLATE MEANS, WHEREBY TO BIAS SAIDPLATE MEANS AGAINST CONTACT, EACH SAID PLATE MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITHAN ORIFICE AND THE ORIFICE IN EACH PLATE MEANS BEING OFFSET FROM THAT INTHE OTHER PLATE MEANS, SAID COUPLING MEANS ACTING UNDER PRESELECTEDADJUSTMENT TO VARY THE BIAS EFFECT OF THE O-RING ON SAID PLATE MEANSWHEREBY TO VARY THE SPACING BETWEEN THE PLATE MEANS SO AS TO EFFECT ACONTROLLED FLOW OF LIQUID INTO THE SCRUBBING ASSEMBLY.